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Voice of America, 98-06-04Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] HOLBROOKE / KOSOVO (L-ONLY) BY REBECCA WARD (WASHINGTON)DATE=6/4/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-233377 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: ETHNIC ALBANIAN LEADERS IN THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO, IN YUGOSLAVIA, HAVE CALLED OFF TALKS SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY WITH BELGRADE AUTHORITIES DUE TO CONTINUING VIOLENCE. THEY SAY THE ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE BETWEEN SERBIAN AUTHORITIES AND ETHNIC ALBANIANS MAKES TALKS MEANINGLESS. THEY ARE AGAIN DEMANDING THIRD-PARTY MEDIATION TO SET AN AGENDA FOR FUTURE TALKS. TEXT: RICHARD HOLBROOKE, ONE OF THE TOP U-S BALKAN PEACE BROKERS, SAYS DIPLOMACY IS NEEDED TO HELP DIFFUSE THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO. MR. HOLBROOKE -- WHO CRAFTED THE PEACE DEAL FOR BOSNIA IN 1995 -- TOLD V-O-A THURSDAY THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS PROMISED KOSOVAR ALBANIAN LEADER IBRAHIM RUGOVA THAT HE WILL NOT LET KOSOVO BECOME ANOTHER BOSNIA. //HOLBROOKE ACT//NATO HAS STARTED CONTINGENCY PLANNING, THE UNITED STATES IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED AS A MEDIATOR. IN FACT, AS WE SPEAK, AN AMERICAN MEDIATOR IS IN BELGRADE TALKING TO THE YUGOSLAV LEADERSHIP. SO, AT LEAST EVERYONE'S AWARE OF THE DANGER. NOW WILL THIS BE SUFFICIENT TO STOP THIS FROM EXPLODING? I DON'T KNOW, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS IT IS THE ESSENCE OF PREVENTATIVE DIPLOMACY. //END ACT//THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE FLEEING THE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO -- SOME TO THE YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MONTENEGRO AND OTHERS OUT OF THE COUNTRY AND INTO ALBANIA. ETHNIC TENSIONS THAT GO BACK CENTURIES HAVE BEEN BLAMED FOR MUCH OF PROBLEMS IN THE BALKANS, BUT MR. HOLBROOKE SAYS THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY TRUE. //HOLBROOKE//THEY WEREN'T KILLING EACH OTHER IN YUGOSLAVIA FOR THE LAST FEW CENTURIES. THERE HAVE BEEN EXPLOSIONS OF KILLING LIKE 1941-1945. BUT, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THAT WAS A PERIOD WHEN EUROPEANS WERE KILLING EACH OTHER IN HUGE NUMBERS, THE REST OF EUROPE GOT OVER IT. THEN YUGOSLAVIA LIVED IN RELATIVE PEACE. (FORMER COMMUNIST YUGOSLAV LEADER JOSIP BROZ) TITO DIED, THE COLD WAR ENDED, YUGOSLAVIA BEGAN TO FALL APART. AND DEMAGOGUES, MAFIOSI, CRIMINALS AND RACISTS TOOK OVER THE MEDIA AND PRESSED THIS FORWARD. //END ACT//NEB/RW/JO 04-Jun-98 3:55 PM EDT (1955 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America [02] KOSOVO DEMO (S ONLY) BY PAMELA TAYLOR (PRISTINA)DATE=6/4/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-233330 CONTENT= VOICED AT: ///// UPPDATES INTRO OF CR2-233330 TO "THOUSANDS". /////INTRO: THOUSANDS OF PROTESTERS DEMONSTRATED IN KOSOVO'S CAPITAL, PRISTINA. V-O-A'S PAMELA TAYLOR IN PRISTINA REPORTS THE ETHNIC ALBANIAN PROTESTERS WAVED BANNERS AND SHOUTED FOR NATO TO ACT NOW TO PREVENT KOSOVO FROM BECOMING ANOTHER BOSNIA. TEST: IT WAS THE LARGEST RALLY IN PRISTINA IN A MONTH OF DAILY PROTESTS BY ETHNIC ALBANIANS DEMANDING INDEPENDENCE FROM SERBIA. AND IT WAS ALSO THE NOISIEST. /// SOUNDS FROM DEMONSTRATION ///THE PROTESTERS WAVED BANNERS IN ENGLISH FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FOREIGN MEDIA IN PRISTINA -- CALLING ON NATO NOT TO ABANDON THEM. ONE BANNER SAID, "WE ARE BEING SLAUGHTERED;" ANOTHER, "U-S-A: SAVE US." MANY SHOUTED, "UCHEKA, UCHEKA" -- THE ALBANIAN LETTERS FOR K-L-A, THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. MANY SHOUTED THE NAME OF THE LEADER OF KOSOVAR ALBANIANS, IBRAHIM RUGOVA. SERBIAN SECURITY FORCES CLAIM THE ARMY HAS DEALT A HEAVY BLOW TO
THE GUERRILLA MOVEMENT IN RECENT CLASHES IN THE DECANI VALLEY.
REFUGEES ARRIVING IN PRISTINA FROM THE AREA SAY THEY LEFT BEHIND
BURNING HOUSES AND DESTROYED VILLAGES. (SIGNED)
NEB/PAM/JWH/MMK/RAE
[03] KOSOVO REFUGEES BY PAMELA TAYLOR (PRISTINA)DATE=6/4/98TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-40594 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THOUSANDS OF ETHNIC ALBANIANS CONTINUE TO FLEE FIGHTING IN THE WESTERN PART OF SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE. MOST ARE CROSSING INTO NEIGHBORING ALBANIA, BUT SOME FIND THEIR WAY BACK TO THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL, PRISTINA. V-O-A'S PAMELA TAYLOR HAS THE STORY OF ONE GROUP WHICH REACHED THE CAPITAL WEDNESDAY. TEXT: TWENTY-YEAR-OLD MIRJETA AND HER MOTHER, EMINE, SHOWED UP AT THE DOOR OF A FRIEND'S HOME WEDNESDAY IN PRISTINA, WITH ONLY THE CLOTHES ON THEIR BACKS -- AND A HARROWING TALE OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION. THEY SAY THEY WALKED, WITH ABOUT 20 OTHERS, FOR SEVEN-HOURS FROM THE BURNING VILLAGE OF DECANI TO THE TOWN OF PEC. FROM THERE THEY TOOK THE TRAIN TO PRISTINA. MIRJETA, WHO DID NOT WANT TO GIVE HER LAST NAME, DESCRIBES THE ATTACK ON DECANI: // MIRJETA ACT //// END ACT //MIRJETA DOES NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HER FATHER, WHO -- SHE SAYS -- ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE MEN IN DECANI, TOOK UP ARMS TO DEFEND THEIR TOWN. WHEN ASKED WHY THE GROUP OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN DID NOT FLEE ALONG WITH SO MANY OTHER REFUGEES IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ALBANIAN BORDER, MIRJETA SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW WHERE THEY WERE GOING UNTIL THEY REACHED PEC. SHE EXPLAINED THEY WERE ESCORTED BY VARIOUS BANDS OF ARMED GUERRILLAS OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY (K-L-A) FROM VILLAGE TO VILLAGE UNTIL THEY BOARDED THE TRAIN FOR PRISTINA. MIRJETA'S ACCOUNT COULD NOT BE INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRMED BECAUSE SERB POLICE HAVE SEALED OFF THE AREA. THE SERB MINISTER OF INFORMATION IN PRISTINA, BOSKO DROBNJAK, DID NOT DENY FIGHTING IS GOING ON IN THE DECANI VALLEY, BUT SAID SERB FORCES ARE RESPONDING TO -- WHAT HE CALLED -- PROVOCATIONS BY ARMED TERRORISTS. MR. DROBNJAK ALSO SAID THE PEOPLE CROSSING INTO ALBANIA ARE NOT REFUGEES BUT FAMILY MEMBERS OF WHAT HE CALLED "TERRORISTS" WHO ARE FIGHTING TO SEPARATE KOSOVO FROM SERBIA. // OPT //// ISMET ACT //IF WE TELL THE TRUE STORY, THE PEOPLE OF KOSOVO BECOME AFRAID AND THEY WILL FLEE KOSOVO, WHICH IS THE CASE. THEY ARE FLEEING TO ALBANIA. // END ACT//MIRJETA SAYS SHE AND HER MOTHER DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE KOSOVO, DESPITE THE HORRORS THEY SAY THEY WITNESSED ON THE ROAD OUT OF THE BURNING TOWN: // SECOND MIRJETA ACT //// END ACT //MIRJETA AND HER MOTHER TOOK REFUGE IN THE HOME OF A FAMILY FRIEND IN PRISTINA -- A LAW STUDENT NAMED SAMI. HE SAYS IF NATO DOES NOT ACT QUICKLY TO SEND TROOPS INTO THE AREA, KOSOVO WILL BECOME ANOTHER BOSNIA: // "SAMI" ACT //THE SITUATION IS THE SAME AS IN CROATIA AND BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, LIKE IN VUKOVAR AND SREBRENICA AND GORAZDE AND SO ON. // END ACT //SAMI SAYS EVERY TIME YOUNG MEN HIS AGE HEAR THE STORIES OF WHAT
IS HAPPENING IN PLACES LIKE THE WAR-TORN VILLAGE OF DECANI, THE
KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY GETS MORE VOLUNTEERS. (SIGNED)
[04] AIR FRANCE STRIKE (L ONLY) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)DATE=6/4/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-233323 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: TALKS BETWEEN LABOR UNIONS AND AIR FRANCE MANAGEMENT APPEAR TO BE MAKING SOME PROGRESS TOWARD ENDING THE PILOTS' STRIKE THAT THREATENS TO DISRUPT THE WORLD CUP SOCCER TOURNAMENT OPENING IN FRANCE NEXT WEEK. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS. TEXT: AS THE OWNER OF AIR FRANCE, THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT CAN STEP IN AT ANY TIME TO STOP THE STRIKE, SIMPLY BY TELLING THE AIRLINE'S MANAGEMENT TO WITHDRAW THE PAY PROPOSALS THAT ANGERED THE PILOTS' UNIONS. BUT THE GOVERNMENT'S DILEMMA IS THAT, IF IT DID SO, IT WOULD CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE OTHER WORKERS TO STRIKE AHEAD OF THE WORLD CUP. ALREADY, A MINOR TRAIN-DRIVERS' UNION IS CALLING FOR A STRIKE WHEN THE TOURNAMENT OPENS WEDNESDAY. AND SOME PUBLIC TRANSPORT WORKERS IN PARIS, WHO ARE CAMPAIGNING FOR EXTRA STAFF DURING THE CUP, STOPPED WORK THURSDAY. THEIR ACTION HAD ONLY A LIMITED EFFECT, HOWEVER. AS THE LATEST TALKS BETWEEN PILOTS' UNIONS AND AIR FRANCE MANAGEMENT GO INTO THEIR THIRD DAY, THE UNIONS ARE TALKING OF PROGRESS ALTHOUGH THEY SAY THE ROAD TO FINAL AGREEMENT COULD STILL BE LONG. THE STRIKE, THAT BEGAN ON MONDAY, CAN BE EXTENDED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD CUP PERIOD UP TO MID-JULY. THE PILOTS' ACTION HAS AROUSED WIDESPREAD ANGER IN FRANCE. THE LEFT-WING FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER JEAN-PIERRE CHEVENEMENT SAYS THE DISPUTE IS PROOF OF A LACK OF CIVIC SPIRIT IN FRANCE. THE MINISTER SUGGESTED THAT THE FRENCH AIR FORCE COULD BE USED TO RUN STRIKE-BREAKING SERVICES TO ENABLE SOCCER FANS TO TRAVEL FROM MATCH TO MATCH. PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC, MEANWHILE, CALLED ON ALL THE FRENCH TO SHOW A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY DURING THE WORLD CUP, SAYING FRANCE MUST SHOW THE BEST OF ITS HOSPITALITY AS THE EYES OF THE WORLD ARE UPON IT. MEANWHILE, THE LEFT-WING DAILY LIBERATION, IN AN EXTENSIVE REPORT ON TRAVEL DURING THE WORLD CUP, SAYS THAT, EVEN IF THE AIR FRANCE STRIKE DOES CONTINUE, THIS WILL NOT CAUSE CHAOS. IT NOTES THAT SOME AIR FRANCE FLIGHTS ARE STILL OPERATING WITH
NON-STRIKING CREWS. OTHER, PRIVATELY OWNED AIRLINES HAVE ALREADY
PLANNED SUBSTANTIAL EXTRA FLIGHTS TO AND FROM THE MAIN MATCH
SITES. THE STATE RAILROAD IS SCHEDULING UP 200 HIGH-SPEED TRAINS
FOR FANS AFTER EACH MATCH. (SIGNED)
[05] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)DATE=6/4/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-233372 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK MARKETS IN WESTERN EUROPE EXPERIENCED A BIT OF A SELL-OFF (THURSDAY). FOR THE CLOSING FIGURES, HERE IS V-O-A'S PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON. TEXT: LOWER PRICES IN EARLY TRADING ON WALL STREET, ALONG WITH AN UNANTICIPATED RISE IN THE BRITISH BASE LENDING RATE TO SEVEN-AND-A-HALF-PERCENT COMBINED TO CAST A GLOOMY MOOD AMONG EUROPEAN TRADERS. EACH OF THE BIG WEST EUROPEAN STOCK INDEXES WAS DOWN BETWEEN TWO-THIRDS AND THREE-QUARTERS OF ONE PERCENT THURSDAY. THE FRANKFURT "DAX" INDEX LOST 35-POINTS, THE LONDON "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 CLOSED OFF JUST UNDER 38-POINTS, AND THE PARIS "CAC 40" WAS DOWN JUST MORE THAN 30-POINTS FOR THE DAY. ON THE CURRENCY MARKETS, THE U-S DOLLAR HELD STEADY AGAINST BOTH THE GERMAN MARK AND THE BRITISH POUND. GOLD IN LONDON GAINED A DOLLAR, CLOSING AT 292-DOLLARS-75 CENTS
AN OUNCE. (SIGNED)
[06] GERMAN TRAIN CRASH (L ONLY) BY THOMAS ANDERSSEN (BONN)DATE=6/4/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-233329 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: GERMAN OFFICIALS SAY 87 PEOPLE ARE SO FAR CONFIRMED DEAD AFTER THE COUNTRY'S WORST EVER TRAIN CRASH. AT LEAST 120 PEOPLE ARE INJURED, SOME SERIOUSLY. AND THOMAS ANDERSSEN IN BONN REPORTS OTHERS REMAIN TRAPPED IN THE FIRST TWO CARS WHICH WERE CRUSHED BY A BRIDGE WHICH COLLAPSED ONTO THE TRAIN. TEXT: THE DEATH TOLL IN THIS TRAIN DISASTER HAS NOT REACHED ITS LIMIT. THE INJURED HAVE BEEN SPREAD BETWEEN HOSPITALS IN AND AROUND THE HANOVER AREA, IN GERMANY'S NORTH. DOCTORS SAY THEY HAVE TREATED EVERY KIND OF TRAUMATIC INJURY AND THAT IN MANY CASES, THEY CAN ONLY WAIT AND SEE IF THE VICTIMS HAVE THE STRENGTH TO OVERCOME THEIR INJURIES. INVESTIGATORS STILL HAVE NO FIRM IDEA OF HOW THE TRAIN CRASHED. FIRST REPORTS SAID A CAR MAY HAVE FALLEN OFF A BRIDGE AND STRUCK THE HIGH SPEED INTERCITY EXPRESS AS IT WAS PASSING UNDERNEATH. A MORE LIKELY SCENARIO, THEY SAY NOW, IS THAT THE TRAIN DERAILED AND PLOUGHED INTO THE BRIDGE'S CONCRETE WALL, PULLING THE CAR AND ENTIRE BRIDGE STRUCTURE DOWN UPON ITSELF. THE FOLLOWING CARRIAGES, TRAVELLING AT 200 KILOMETERS AN HOUR, BECAME ENORMOUS JAVELINS, DRIVING INTO AND ON TOP OF EACH OTHER. THE TRAIN'S ENGINE HOWEVER WAS UNDAMAGED AND ARRIVED SAFELY AT THE NEXT STATION, ONE-HALF KILOMETER AWAY. THE DRIVER, WHO SURVIVED UNINJURED, SAYS HE FELT A LARGE PULL AND THEN, WHEN HE ARRIVED AT HIS NEXT SCHEDULED STOP, THERE WAS NO MORE TRAIN BEHIND HIM. STAFF AT THE VILLAGE STATION REACTED IMMEDIATELY AND SENT AN EMERGENCY STOP NOTICE TO ALL TRAINS TRAVELING FURTHER DOWN THE LINE. THIS PREVENTED OTHER TRAINS FROM DRIVING BLINDLY INTO THE CRASH AREA AND CAUSING AN EVEN MORE TERRIBLE TRAGEDY. RESCUE WORK CONTINUED NON-STOP BY SPOTLIGHT DURING THE NIGHT AS A CRANE ATTEMPTED TO LIFT THE CONCRETE BRIDGE SPAN WHICH LANDED ON TOP OF TWO FIRST CLASS CARRIAGES, TOTALLY CRUSHING THEM. REPORTS THAT A GROUP OF SCHOOL CHILDREN MAY HAVE BEEN ON THE TRAIN ARE SO FAR NOT CONFIRMED. MANY OF THE INJURED HOWEVER ARE SO SERIOUSLY HURT THAT DOCTORS HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY MAY SURVIVE. AT THE MOMENT, THERE IS NO INDICATION THE TRAIN WAS SPEEDING. IT WAS PERMITTED TO TRAVEL 200 KILOMETERS AN HOUR ON THE SECTION WHERE IT DERAILED. THERE IS ALSO NO IMMEDIATE EVIDENCE THAT RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, WHO WERE DOING IMPROVEMENT WORK BENEATH THE BRIDGE AT THE TIME, BUT NOT ON THE TRACKS, MAY HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE. GERMANY'S MAIN NORTH-SOUTH RAIL LINE, LINKING MUNICH AND HAMBURG,
WILL BE CLOSED FOR DAYS AS THE BROKEN CONCRETE BRIDGE AND TRAIN
CARRIAGES ARE CLEARED AWAY. (SIGNED)
[07] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)DATE=6/4/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-233385 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP TODAY (THURSDAY) IN A REBOUND FROM WEDNESDAY'S SELL-OFF. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 88 HUNDRED 70, UP 66 POINTS. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT ONE THOUSAND 94, UP 12 POINTS. ANALYSTS SAY THERE WAS SOME BARGAIN HUNTING AFTER WEDNESDAY'S ONE PERCENT DROP IN THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE AND TRADERS WERE ENCOURAGED BY THE LATEST U-S ECONOMIC STATISTICS. THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS FACTORY ORDERS IN THE UNITED STATES JUMPED ONE POINT TWO PERCENT IN APRIL. AND AMERICAN RETAILERS REPORT STRONG SALES IN MAY IN VIRTUALLY ALL CATEGORIES OF MERCHANDISE. ///BEGIN OPT//////LONSKI ACT//////OPT//////END ACT///ALTHOUGH THE U-S ECONOMY CONTINUES TO EXPAND, BUSINESS PRODUCTIVITY GREW IN THE FIRST QUARTER AT ITS SLOWEST PACE IN A YEAR. PRODUCTIVITY IS A MEASURE OF WORKER OUTPUT PER HOUR. ///REST OPT///THERE WAS MORE CONSOLIDATION IN THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT INDUSTRY. ALCATEL OF FRANCE WILL BUY THE D-S-C COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY OF THE UNITED STATES FOR FOUR POINT FOUR BILLION DOLLARS IN STOCK. ON WEDNESDAY, THE TELLABS COMPANY SAID IT WILL PAY MORE THAN SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS FOR THE CIENA (SEA-ENNA) CORPORATION. NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE IN AN EFFORT TO AVERT A STRIKE FRIDAY AT A GENERAL MOTORS METAL STAMPING PLANT IN FLINT, MICHIGAN. A WALKOUT THERE COULD QUICKLY LEAD TO SHUTDOWNS AT AUTO ASSEMBLY PLANTS AND COST G-M MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THE STOCK OF NORTHWEST AIRLINES FELL ALMOST 10 PERCENT AFTER THE
COMPANY WARNED WALL STREET THAT THE AIRLINE'S QUARTERLY PROFITS
WILL BE DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY FROM LAST YEAR. NORTHWEST, WHICH HAS
MAJOR OPERATIONS IN ASIA, SAYS THE FINANCIAL CRISIS THERE HAS
HURT TRAFFIC.(SIGNED)
[08] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY GARY EDQUIST (WASHINGTON)DATE=6/4/98TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST NUMBER=6-10748 TELEPHONE=619-3940 EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS /// DATED AFTER 10 P-M E-S-T TODAY ///INTRO: SOME OF THE TOPICS ON U-S EDITORIAL PAGES INCLUDE: REACTION TO THE EXTENSION OF FAVORED TRADE STATUS FOR CHINA; WORRIES ABOUT A SOUTH ASIA ARMS RACE; THE FAILURES OF U-S INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES; AND LINGERING REMINDERS OF WORLD WAR TWO CRIMES. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES, IS __________________ AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST. TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCED (WEDNESDAY) HIS DECISION TO RENEW CHINA'S MOST FAVORED NATION TRADE STATUS FOR ANOTHER YEAR. CHINA HAILED THE DECISION. "THE WASHINGTON POST NEWSPAPER" WRITES THAT -- NO ONE EXPECTS CONGRESS TO CHALLENGE THE ANNUAL BESTOWAL OF M-F-N STATUS ON CHINA. THE POST WARNS, HOWEVER, ABOUT FALSE ASSUMPTIONS IN U-S CHINESE RELATIONS: VOICE: MR. CLINTON APPARENTLY BELIEVES THAT CHINA IS INEXORABLY MARCHING TOWARD DEMOCRACY, THAT IN THE MEANTIME ECONOMIC REFORMS CAN SUCCEED AHEAD OF POLITICAL REFORMS AND THAT INCREASED TRADE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH INEVITABLY WILL MAKE CHINA A FORCE FOR STABILITY ON THE WORLD STAGE. THESE BELIEFS ARE CONVENIENT, BECAUSE THEY ABSOLVE OUTSIDERS OF MUCH RESPONSIBILITY TO WORK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS OR POLITICAL FREEDOM IN CHINA --- THOSE WILL COME IN DUE COURSE. AND THEY ABSOLVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF ANY NEED TO WORRY THAT BY TRADING, INCLUDING IN SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY, IT MAY BE STRENGTHENING A POTENTIAL RIVAL. TEXT: IN THE AMERICAN MIDWEST, THE MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA "STAR TRIBUNE" WRITES IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL THERE IS STILL HOPE FOR STOPPING AN ARMS RACE BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN FOLLOWING THE NUCLEAR TEST EXPLOSIONS THAT BOTH COUNTRIES CONDUCTED. THE NEWSPAPER CALLS FOR THE FIVE OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE WORLD'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS CLUB -- THE U-S, BRITAIN, FRANCE, CHINA AND RUSSIA -- FOR SWIFT AND IMAGINATIVE ACTION DURING TALKS (THURSDAY) IN GENEVA. VOICE: THIS WILL BE NO EASY TASK. IT TAKES SOME DOING TO TALK SENSE INTO PEOPLE WHO CONSIDER NUCLEAR WEAPONRY AN EMBLEM OF STATUS AND SECURITY. ... IT IS A LONG SHOT [I.E. IT IS A DIFFICULT TASK] THE NUCLEAR FIVE MUST TAKE, AND THE UNITED STATES MUST TAKE THE LEAD. ...HOW TO PERSUADE THESE TWO TEMPERAMENTAL BOMB-BUILDERS? ...INDIA AND PAKISTAN MUST BE MADE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PRICE OF PURSUING NUCLEAR AMBITIONS IS PROFOUND -- BOTH IN TERMS OF MONEY AND PRESTIGE. TEXT: THE FAILURE OF U-S INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES TO PREDICT THE INDIAN NUCLEAR TESTS HAS "NEWSDAY" (LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK) ASKING IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL -- WHY SPY? AND WONDERING, WHAT IS THE POINT OF HAVING SPY AGENCIES IF THEY DO NOT SPY WELL?" AN INTELLIGENCE REVIEW PANEL SAID THIS WEEK (TUESDAY) THAT THE U-S CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY FAILED TO PREDICT INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS BECAUSE THE C-I-A WAS SHORT-SIGHTED AND NARROW-MINDED. THE REPORT URGED A THOROUGH REVIEW OF U-S INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS, WHICH NEWSDAY CALLS "A GOOD START." VOICE: WHAT U-S INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES NEED IS NOT BUCKETS OF NEW MONEY BUT A THOROUGH RETHINKING OF THEIR PRIORITIES --- HOW THEY ALLOCATE AND USE THE RESOURCES THAT ALREADY HAVE. ... ABOVE ALL, LONG-HELD ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT FRIENDS AND ADVERSARIES NEED TO BE CONSTANTLY CHALLENGED --- BY U-S POLICYMAKERS AS WELL AS WASHINGTON'S INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES. TEXT: A U-S GOVERNMENT REPORT RELEASED TUESDAY SAYS NEUTRAL NATIONS KEPT NAZI GERMANY'S WAR EFFORT RUNNING DURING WORLD WAR TWO WITH HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF TRADE IN KEY MATERIALS. THE REPORT SAYS THE NAZIS PAID FOR MUCH OF THE TRADE WITH WEALTH LOOTED FROM HOLOCAUST VICTIMS AND BANKS IN OCCUPIED COUNTRIES. THE REPORT ALSO SAYS SWITZERLAND ACTED AS NAZI GERMANY'S BANKER. "THE SUN", IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ADDS SWISS BANKS WERE NOT ALONE. VOICE OTHER NEUTRAL COUNTRIES WERE ALSO PROFITEERING: SPAIN AND ARGENTINA HAD GOVERNMENTS SYMPATHETIC TO ADOLF HITLER; SWITZERLAND, LIKE SWEDEN, WAS SURROUNDED BY NAZI FORCES AND NOT A FREE AGENT. TURKEY'S GOLD SUPPLY MUSHROOMED. ...IT IS TOO LATE TO OBTAIN JUSTICE A HALF-CENTURY AFTER THE POSTWAR LAPSES. BUT WHAT CAN BE DONE SHOULD BE DONE, BY ALL THE COUNTRIES CONCERNED. TEXT: WITH THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF TODAY'S
EDITORIALS FROM THE U-S PRESS.
[09] U-S / IRELAND (S+L) BY JOHN PITMAN (WASHINGTON)DATE=6/4/98TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-233375 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: A GROUP OF U-S POLITICIANS IS CALLING FOR A 25 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE U-S CONTRIBUTION TO THE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR IRELAND. THE GROUP SAYS IT WILL PUSH FOR THE INCREASE AS A SHOW OF SUPPORT FOR VOTERS IN THE IRISH REPUBLIC AND BRITISH-RULED NORTHERN IRELAND WHO OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED A PEACE PLAN FOR NORTHERN IRELAND LAST MONTH. V-O-A'S JOHN PITMAN HAS DETAILS FROM WASHINGTON. TEXT: THE GROUP PUSHING FOR THE INCREASE IS LED BY DEMOCRATIC SENATOR ROBERT TORRICELLI (PRON. TOR-UH-SELL-EE) AND REPUBLICAN SENATOR ALFONSE D'AMATO. AT A NEWS CONFERENCE ON THURSDAY, SENATOR TORRICELLI SAID THE VICTORY OF THE "YES" VOTE IN LAST MONTH'S REFERENDUM WAS AN "EXTRAORDINARY" STEP TOWARD PEACE. BUT HE ADDED THAT FOR THE PEACE PROCESS TO SUCCEED, THE IRISH WILL NEED HELP RESOLVING THE ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES WHICH EXIST IN THE BRITISH PROVINCE. SENATOR TORRICELLI SAID THE IMPORTANCE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT -- ESPECIALLY IN CATHOLIC SECTIONS OF NORTHERN IRELAND -- CANNOT BE UNDERESTIMATED. HE SAID THE GOAL OF INCREASING THE U-S CONTRIBUTION SHOULD BE TO SPARK ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND HELP CREATE JOBS IN NORTHERN IRELAND, WHICH HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATES IN EUROPE. /// OPT TORRICELLI ACT ///THIS ADDITIONAL FOUR-POINT-NINE MILLION DOLLARS -- IF MATCHED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL CONTRIBUTORS -- CAN BE THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENT IN THE RECONCILIATION OF THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND. /// END ACT / END OPT ///THE UNITED STATES CURRENTLY CONTRIBUTES 19-POINT-SIX MILLION DOLLARS TO THE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR IRELAND. /// REST OPT FOR LONG ///COMMERCE SECRETARY WILLIAM DALEY WILL LEAD THE DELEGATION, WHICH WILL INCLUDE 17 U-S BUSINESS LEADERS. /// DALEY ACT ///THE TRADE MISSION TO NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE BORDER COUNTIES IS A STRONG STATEMENT BY THE U-S GOVERNMENT AND THE 17 BUSINESS LEADERS. IT'S A STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON'S STRONG COMMITMENT TO THE PEACE PROCESS AND TO ALL OF THE PARTIES WHO ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO BRING AN END TO THE INSTABILITY THAT HAS OCCURRED IN NORTHERN IRELAND FOR SO MANY YEARS. /// END ACT ///THE U-S TRADE MISSION WILL INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES FROM A DIVERSE
RANGE OF U-S COMPANIES -- FROM AIRCRAFT MAKER BOEING, TO
UNDERWEAR MAKER "FRUIT OF THE LOOM." THE DELEGATION IS SCHEDULED
TO ARRIVE IN BELFAST ON SUNDAY. (SIGNED)
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